In Sermon Illustrations: "Character"

What Chain Letters, Many Multi-Level Marketers ...

Contributed by Michael Gardner on Mar 2, 2006

What chain letters, many multi-level marketers and pyramid schemes have in common is this. They appeal to greed. It is the theology of Wall Street. In that film, Michael Douglas’ character, Gordon Gecko delivers this speech, “…greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good. Greed is right. ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Methodist

Will Rogers Was Known For His Laughter, But He ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep. One day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps. Of course, Rogers had ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Men Who Have In The Past Exerted The Greatest ...  PRO

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 9, 2006

Men who have in the past exerted the greatest influence for good in the world had, as a rule, pious mothers. The mother of George Washington, the man in whose principles we glory today, made it a practice each morning to spend an hour in prayer, devotion, and Bible study before attempting to ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Ewen Huffman Tells Of A Story In Reference To ...

Contributed by James Kirkland on Aug 29, 2006

Ewen Huffman tells of a story in reference to Malachi 3:2-3a; There was group of women in a Bible study group studying the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Nazarene

In The Movie Saving Private Ryan, A Group Of Army ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Feb 22, 2007

In the movie Saving Private Ryan, a group of Army Rangers receive a mission to go deep into enemy territory to save Private Ryan. They hit skirmish after skirmish, and some of them are killed along the way. They finally get to where Private Ryan is holed up, and they say, “Come with us. We’re here ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Is This The Life I Want?  PRO

Contributed by Dean Kennedy on Sep 1, 2002

IS THIS THE LIFE I WANT? "I look in on my children as they sleep at night, [and] I think of the kind of father I want to be. I want to create moments of magic, I want them to remember laughing until the tears flow ... I want to have slow, sweet talks with them as they’re getting ready to close ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Disappointment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Will Rogers  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 14, 2002

Will Rogers Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep. One day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps. Of course, ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

Amy Biehl Died A Violent Death In 1993. She Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 6, 2005

Amy Biehl died a violent death in 1993. She was a 26-year-old Fulbright scholar who had gone to South Africa to help register black voters for their first free election. But even though she was seeking to help the people of South Africa, as she was driving one day, she was dragged out of her ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

I Read Recently About A Group Of Women Who Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Aug 26, 2007

I read recently about a group of women who were studying the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3) This verse kind of puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

In A Previous Church I Served, We Had A Young ...

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 1, 2008

In a previous church I served, we had a young couple in our congregation whose names were Barry and Cindy, and both Barry and Cindy were blind. This was an impressive young couple who managed to live a normal life despite their disability. They maintained their own apartment, held down jobs, ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Ever-Flowing Stream Of Grace

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ever-flowing Stream Of Grace (Chrisitans Need to Remember) Isaiah 40:28-31 says, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Do You Not Know" Have You Not Heard?: The language of the prophet is one of reproving. We know that by ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ever-Flowing Stream Of Grace  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ever-flowing Stream Of Grace (Christians Need to Remember) Isaiah 40:28-31says, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Do You Not Know" Have You Not Heard?: The language of the prophet is one of reproving. We know that by ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How An Eskimo Kills A Wolf

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Oct 14, 2008

HOW AN ESKIMO KILLS A WOLF According to tradition, this is how an Eskimo kills a wolf. First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. He then adds layer after layer of blood until the blade is completely concealed by the frozen blood. Next, the hunter ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of

No-Cut Auditions

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

NO-CUT AUDITIONS Dick Sanderson is kind enough to give me a subscription to Leadership, Real Ministry in a Complex World. It is an exceptional magazine. This quarter there was an insert that carried a story called "A Cast of Thousands" by Lillian Daniel. She writes: "At my daughter’s ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Note The Contrast Between Fleeing And Pursuing. ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 23, 2009

Note the contrast between fleeing and pursuing. It is not enough to just stop doing things or at least stop the frequency of those things that do not honor God. Sometimes it is easy to think, “I just do it once in while. What’s the harm?” The problem is that people really do see what you’re saying. ...read more

Tags: Tenacity

Denomination: Church Of God

Life Eternal

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

LIFE ETERNAL Someone named, James Langdon Hill, once said, "Life Eternal! How shall I express my thought of it? It is not mere existence, however prolonged and free from annoyance. It is not the pleasures of the senses, however vivid. It is not peace. It is not happiness. It is not joy. But it is ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Tags: Immortality

Occasionally I Meet Christians Who Say

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 8, 2010

Occasionally I meet Christians who say “God is telling me to go and do this or that” and then the next minute God seems to have changed His mind. I remember one guy who made God look like He didn’t know how to make up His mind at all! One day it was “God wants me to do this.” and the next day it ...read more

Tags: Words, Oath

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Were Standing In Line To Go Into Church. It ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 11, 2010

We were standing in line to go into Church. It was a long line and we had to wait for some time for the doors to be opened. Although the auditorium seated 1,500 people, some people would have to come to the next service or sit in a "bad seat". You had to get to Church early to get a "good seat" (3 ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Not To Market The Church

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

HOW NOT TO MARKET THE CHURCH When we speak of marketing the church (writes David Wells) we are not referencing such things as advertising church events, providing excellence in church programming, being kind to visitors, or providing ample parking. No one is arguing the importance and value of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Tags: Church Practices

The Treasure Of Christmas

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 19, 2011

I agree it is time Christmas “message” time folks! But firstly how about having a round of Quiz? Which is your favorite Tintin comic? Do I hear the answers…Tintin in Tibet, Crab with the Golden claws etc etc. Some would even confide, any comic with Captain Haddock (most spicy character) in it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: *other